Can a cold raise heart rate?

Went to urgent care with symptoms of bad cold. BP was normal but my heart rate was 120 at its highest then went down to 105. Doctor seemed very concerned and said if I felt chest pain to go to the ER. I do suffer from anxiety frequently so I always am nervous at doctors office. Had full heart work up 2 years ago and I was fine. Went in for a cold now she had me worried about this. I visit hematologist all the time for my anemia did not say a word about being concerned about heart rate. I take my BP at home a lot with my machine and heart rate usually anywhere from 83-94. Should I be worried?

Responses (1)

Hi Tired in Pa,If that was a one time event I would say not to worry. Going to any urgent care or ER is stressful especially if you suffer from anxiety.When did you have you anemia last checked up on?If your hemoglobin is down it causes your heart to beat faster. The heart has to work harder to circulate the oxygen-deprived blood to the organs.I would call your docs office on Monday to make sure they were sent a report of your urgent care visit.If it continues tomorrow or you get chest pains then get to the ER (not urgent care).Take it really easy tomorrow.Did you take cold med, OTCs or change your prescription meds lately.It sounds like a side effect and some of those cold meds have ephedrine which can increase your heart rate.Did your heart rate come down prior to discharge? If so, it may have been the anxiety.Please give us feedback back if you get a chance.Best wishes :-)

My hemoglobin is normal at 12.1 so I don't think it's that. Ughh this rate is all I can focus on right now. Can't afford an expensive ER visit. Doctor put me on doxycycline I'm afraid to take anything else now

Sorry... I had unexpected company.No, your hemoglobin is not the issue. You would have to be really low for it to affect your heart rate. I think I know what the answer is after looking up Doxycycline.Rapid heart rate is considered a major side effect !There are people here that can give you a more professional opinion. I'm a nurse but there are pharmacists and physicians that hopefully will respond.Did you get put on the Doxy at the urgent care ? If so, it's not from the antibiotic.Doxy is an antibiotic that people can take long term... Lyme disease, rosacea, etc. I guess I'm trying to figure out if you were recently put on this drug by your Primary, the Urgent Care or if you have been on it for awhile?

The rapid heart rate could be attributed to the Doxy if you were recently were put on it. Obviously if UC started it then it's not the cause. If you have been on it for awhile it's less likely because your body probably would have shown symptoms if you have been on it for a month for example.You need to get follow up as soon as you can.Does your Primary have a week-end on-call service? If so, I would call first thing in the morning as long as your heart rate stays under 100. Monitor your rate when lying down and then standing. If there is a significant drop the info will be helpful to your doctor.The other question I have is if you have a FEVER? If so, it could be the cause of increased heart rate.You should take acetaminophen to keep it down.Another possibility may be DEHYDRATION? If you are coughing and sick, you may not be drinking enough fluid. If this is true then you really need to increase it to at least 6 -8 glasses per day. It will ease your cough and make the secretions easier to cough up.I understand the cost of ER visits but I have to tell you to go if you are having chest pain.A MAJOR side effect is one that the risks of the side effects outweigh the treatment for the illness.The worst thing you should be doing is WORRYING especially if you have a history of anxiety.Because what happens? Your heart rate goes up!Do you live with someone? Try and relax to get your mind off of it, watch TV or visit with someone.Do you hyperventilate? As you know it's different than being short of breath from pneumonia.In the old days in the ER we used to give people small brown bags to cup around their nose and mouth. It's not high tech but it works. It brings the oxygen level back to normal and within 5 min you will feel your breathing slowing down . Afterwards, just try and relax because you will have it under control.I know this is long but I feel bad for you. Having a steady rapid heart rate is very scary.You should lie down in a recliner if you have one. Keeping your legs elevated makes your heart rate decrease because it doesn't have to work so hard.I don't know your age, sometimes the heart goes into a different rhythm as you get older and will need a small dose of meds to keep it under control. It's all part of the aging process. ;-(If this is a one time episode and it went down to where there are no palpitations, I would relax and explain it away by your coughing and being sick.I would make sure you read about Doxy on the site here. I'd do it for you but I don't know how to bring up the link! Lol... You should not take it if you are allergic to tetracycline.You should not take vitamins, iron, calcium, antacids, or laxatives 2 hours before or after taking Doxy. Drink it with a full glass of water.You sound like you need a good prescription cough medicine too.If you have any questions, please ask. Hopefully a pharmacist will see your question. Lol... Please give us follow up if you happen to remember.Try calling your doctor's service tomorrow morning OR get to the ER.Best wishes,:-)

I have only taken one doxy so far. To be honest I really don't feel my heart racing. I'm a little sore in the chest from coughing. But I don't have shortness of breath just a stuffy nose and a major headache. I do get anxiety at doctors office all the time but I do have blood pressure cuff at home and the readings are all over the place anywhere from 102-130. 0bviously at the 130 I'm feeling anxious. What I may do is bypass family doc altogether and call the cardiologist tomorrow and see if he's on call. I know me and I'm going to worry non stop about this. My blood pressure is mildly elevated.Thank you so much for caring and taking the time to answer

Ok good. I'm getting a bigger picture of you now.I hope this helps... I bet it was one of those anomalous events. It happened because it happened. Out of the blue and it's fixed now.You are sick, baby yourself, don't be checking your heart rate every 5 minutes! Ask me how I know? I drove myself crazy with a new pulse of machine plus the heart rate apps. Then I found the food diary and nothing passed by my lips without it being calorie counted!

You are sick, had a busy day and now you are awake all night! Did you ev4r hear of positive affirmation techniques?It's easy ... Think of only positive outcomes. Spend a few min of that and a few min of what you were grateful for that day. Do this as your going to bed. You will sleep better and wake up more refreshed. Positive affirmations is very easy. No Negative Thinking! The more negativity you put out into the Universe, the more negativity will find you.

Sooooo... we are happy, we are grateful for what we have and we will get back in life what we put out there.I'm thinking healthy thoughts for you starting now.You are tired in Pa.I am falling asleep in Pa! LOL... I'm on the East of this beautiful state!Best Wishes;-)

Thank you so much for your follow up.Don't you feel relieved ?What did he say about the Doxy?I guess he would since it was not the culprit.How's your cough today?Is it one of those hacking coughs?Anything coming up from your lungs ?I was in my 30s and developed this hacking cough that lasted for 8 months. I was on high doses of prednisone for months.After months, I couldn't even cough because my ribs hurt soooo much !It turned out to be a cough variant asthma. No wheezing .I was on 2 inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics. I finally just asked to be intubated to get relief. She tried one last med... Hycodan. I took it at max amount and knocked myself out after not sleeping for so many months. 5 days later it was totally gone! It was the codeine in the cough syrup that got it under control.I gained 40 lbs and my muscles were so weak that I could barely walk from the prednisone !